The Model Buses of Rob Richardson

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'Bedfords - You see them Everywhere!' So ran the advertising slogan and obviously true here. Nearest the camera is a WTB 14-seater with a body produced by Waveney of Outon Broad, Lowestoft and new in 1931. This was the first bus produced by General Motors under the Bedford name - which was a follow-on of the American produced Chevrolet LQ; the oldest vehicle in Richardson's fleet still seeing occasional use in 1950, and seen here posing alongside its younger stablemates, is the WTB/Duple Coach, dating from 1936 and the recently delivered 1950 OB Duple MK IV Service Bus. Text by Rob Richardson Detail of the rear end of the Waveney-bodied Bedford WTB. The white-metal kit is produced by John Day 'Vehicle Scenics', and is a reworking of the earlier kit produced by John Day, under the Malvern Models banner. Text by Rob Richardson Bedford OB/Duple Mk.IV Bus: A resin kit from Little Bus Company, the model represents one of the vehicles recently added to 'Richardson's' fleet (in 1950) and is typical of service buses seen on many a rural route of the day. Bedford OB/Duple Mk.IV Bus: A resin kit from Little Bus Company, the model represents one of the vehicles recently added to 'Richardson's' fleet (in 1950) and is typical of service buses seen on many a rural route of the day.
Bedford OB/Duple Mk.IV Bus: The OB prepares for the next run of the day. Bedford WTB/Duple Coach: Another resin kit from Little Bus Company, finished in 'Richardson's' colours, the model represents one of the older vehicles in the fleet, which was new in 1936. It is still a much-valued vehicle in 1950, the period in which my fleet, which is typical of many rural operators of that era, is featured. AEC Regal/Burlingham Coach: This whitemetal kit, from Anbrico, was acquired as a constructed and painted model, which I eventually stripped and repainted in 'Richardson's' colours. The pleasing lines of the Burlingham coachwork depict a vehicle which would have been new in about 1948 and still the pride of the fleet in 1950. The half-cab front-engined configuration was soon to look very dated with the introduction, firstly, of full-fronted coachwork, which was shortly afterwards followed by the first generation of under-floor-engined chassis, such as the AEC Regal IV and the Leyland Royal Tiger. Commer Commando/Plaxton Coach (left): Produced from the Langley whitemetal kit, it represents yet another vehicle 'make' in 'Richardson's' fleet. Most small independents would have had to contend with a multitude of makes, during the early post-war period. Supplies of new vehicles were very scarce, so operators were glad of anything to replace war-weary stock. The stylish Plaxton coachwork contrasts with the characteristic AEC Regal/Burlingham rear-end, with a Leyland TD1 in the background. Script sign-writing decals were produced to special order, by Dave Jessop. The Langley Commer kit is currently available from MBF Shop).
AEC Regal/Harrington Coach: A Fanfare Transport Models resin kit, built by Mike Pannell, of Hastings, and arranged through Fanfare. This was a kit that had, for a long time, been on my 'wish list', since seeing a similar 25-year-old vehicle, still in regular use in the mid-1970s, alongside early Dominants and Supremes. To me, it is probably the ultimate in a coach of its era - a front-engined chassis with half-cab coachwork, by master coachbuilders Thos. Harrington of Hove - every operator's dream! Pictured to show the flamboyant Harrington streamlining, sunshine roof and the rear-end dorsal fin - an optional styling and ventilation feature. The model portrays a vehicle recently-delivered to 'Richardson's, in 1950. AEC Regal/Harrington Coach: A Fanfare Transport Models resin kit, built by Mike Pannell, of Hastings, and arranged through Fanfare. This was a kit that had, for a long time, been on my 'wish list', since seeing a similar 25-year-old vehicle, still in regular use in the mid-1970s, alongside early Dominants and Supremes. To me, it is probably the ultimate in a coach of its era - a front-engined chassis with half-cab coachwork, by master coachbuilders Thos. Harrington of Hove - every operator's dream! Pictured to show the flamboyant Harrington streamlining, sunshine roof and the rear-end dorsal fin - an optional styling and ventilation feature. The model portrays a vehicle recently-delivered to 'Richardson's, in 1950. Leyland TD1: The Leyland TD1 is an EFE re-paint into my 'R&L Richardson's' colours of pale ivory (Carplan Aerosol) and Humbrol No.19 for the red banding. The script sign-writing was made to order, courtesy of Dave Jessop. Slight modifications include the addition of sidelights, new Auto-vac (round type - the original was plastic, which our friend Nitromors ate for breakfast when I wasn't looking!). One of the more noticeable features on the TD1 are the parallel grabrails on the upper saloon, to the front windows and offside windows for the sunken side gangway. I had a few goes trying to replicate them using brass wire - but it didn't look right. So, in the end, fellow area member, Mike Evans, suggested that I use a black permanent 'fine-liner', which did the trick…... Leyland TD1: …..The solid bulkhead partition on the platform was removed and replaced by plasticard with glazing and a handrail was also added. A handrail was also fitted to the stairs diagonally crossing the rear window. I notice, in early photos of TD1s, that the platforms were not fitted with a central stanchion rail but, as mine portrays a vehicle in its later life (around 1950), I decided not to remove the one provided by EFE. The upper and lower saloon was also re-glazed - which is an improvement on the EFE glazing. The EFE glazing to the cab looks passable so I cheated and decided to keep it rather than fiddle to replace it. I wouldn't say I am an over-keen 'decker fan (this is the first in my small rural fleet!), but the aesthetically pleasing lines of the TD1 are well captured by EFE, and it was one I couldn't resist. Now what was Dick Lindsay saying about the AEC Q? ..... hmmm..... maybe!
Leyland TD1: The Leyland TD1 prepares to set off on its next run. Foden PVSC6/Windovers Coach: The graceful lines of this half-canopy Windovers coach body seem in perfect harmony with Foden's enclosed front, which would have been very modern-looking when new, in 1949, and so would have been a front-line coach in 1950. During my schooldays, I fondly remember seeing a couple of Foden coaches operating in North Wales, which inspired me to include an example in my fleet. The whitemetal kit was supplied by Pirate Models and is built as standard. Leyland TS8/Coach: A few subtle changes to the EFE TS8 die-cast have provided another coach for the fleet. The coach would have been new to Richardson's in 1937 and, by 1950, would have seen use on stage carriage service, and would also work alongside the newer post-war coaches, when necessary. Simple modifications were the fitting of a coach door, modelled out of plasticard, and the addition of a sliding sunshine roof, provided by thin aluminium from a pop-can, and a couple of pieces of brass wire for the sliders. Not really based on any particular prototype, but fairly typical of its era.  
 
 
The Model Buses of Rob Richardson


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Photos and texts by Rob Richardson.